What is career coaching? 4 signs you need a career coach

A career coach is a professional who provides guidance and support to individuals on issues related to their careers. They aim to help clients define their career goals, plan career moves, and overcome obstacles in their professional lives.

Working with a career or job coach has many benefits, but not everyone’s familiar with the concept. Career coaching is still relatively new to the professional world, and this is your opportunity to learn more before diving in. 

The global workforce is always changing. Many companies are figuring out how to keep their workforce agile and adaptable. And in a fickle economic climate and labor shortage, both companies and employees are searching for ways to navigate change and hit the sweet spot. 

After reaching over one million coaching sessions, BetterUp found crucial insights about the career coaching process. Career growth is highly personal, yet paths do tend to have common ground. Most people want guidance as they grow in their careers. And for leaders to produce great teams, they need to feel great, too. 

Career coaching helps both organizations and employees pave the way for career and company development. Let’s talk about what career coaching is and what career coaches do. You’ll also discover the benefits of coaching and what to expect from the experience.

What is career coaching?

First, let’s start by defining what career coaching is. 

At BetterUp, we think of career coaching as a proactive approach to building your mental fitness. Instead of a quick problem-solving solution, it’s a future-minded tool to help unlock your workforce’s full potential.

According to the May 2023 International Coaching Federation report, more than 48,000 certified coaches are working worldwide, and the number grows every year with the high demand. 

Because every career journey is unique, a career coach personalizes their approach to fit their coachee. They cover a range of career coaching topics — whatever you need help with. Here are more specifics of what a career coach does and how they can help your organization and employees. 

What does a career coach do?

A career coach doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all job description. That’s because a person’s career path is like a fingerprint: no two are the same. Every career journey is unique and requires personalized support. 

But when you look at the key responsibilities of a career coach, there are some similarities. At BetterUp, we train coaches to cover many professional development topics. Here are some subjects a career coach can assist with: 

• Navigate career transitions 
• Provide career advice
• Help job seekers with job interview skills (including practicing mock interviews) 
• Examine career assessment results and provide guidance 
• Assist with career planning
• Help to set career goals and long-term professional goals 
• Explore new career options and opportunities 
• Advise on how to build your personal brand 
• Find work-life balance by setting boundaries and examining priorities 
• Assist in the job search process 
• Find footing in a new role or new job 
• Explore ways to upskill or reskill in a current job 
• Identify new strategies to enhance career development 

At the end of the day, a career coach helps you or your employees find the job they love. Sometimes, that’s examining a current role and finding ways to upskill or reskill within the organization. And other times, it’s carving out an entirely new career path that aligns with the purpose of your work. 

Who can benefit from career coaching?

The short answer? Everyone can benefit from career coaching. 

The longer answer? Everyone has the ability to dig deeper to reach their full potential, but not all can do it alone. Coaching helps everyone everywhere live with greater purpose, clarity, and passion. 

To awaken human potential, you must acknowledge the realities of today’s workforce. In demanding jobs, staying grounded is hard, and employee coaching is the starting point for support and growth. With coaching, you can boost your employee engagement, well-being, and productivity. 

Looking for a specific example? The City of Santa Monica, a BetterUp customer, talks about how career coaching has helped employees at all levels thrive. 

4 signs you could benefit from career coaching 

Studies show that 55% of employees are in a state of languishing — feeling empty and unfulfilled. Mental health is a spectrum, and employees are at risk of sliding down that spectrum without the proper support. So what are the signs that you (or your team) could benefit from career coaching? 

1. You feel stuck 

If you’re feeling stuck, you’re not alone. The Great Resignation signaled that millions of employees everywhere wanted to change careers. Although the job market has cooled, the world of work is still in a constant state of change. 

But even amid that change, you might feel stuck in the mud. If your current career feels stagnant, career coaching can help. 

2. You’re not sure if you’re in the right career 

No matter how far along you are in your career path, it’s never too late for a change. It takes courage to recognize that you need to switch gears, and even more to act on that realization.

You’ll have to make many tough decisions as you consider a change, whether that’s going back to school or quitting your job. A career coach can guide you through your transition and help you find success wherever you end up. 

3. You want better work-life balance and overall well-being 

The global workforce is on the brink of a burnout crisis. BetterUp researched nearly 175,000 members to identify what it means to be satisfied and feel a sense of well-being. 

And what is the top driver of life satisfaction, according to this research? Job satisfaction. This isn’t surprising, given that people spend more than one-third of their lives at work. When global languishing and burnout are higher than ever, coaching can help you reflect and curb the crisis. 

4. You want to learn new things and grow in your career

Employees want to grow and feel upward momentum in their careers. But in order to follow those learning pathways, you need to understand how to better develop professionally. 

If you’re itching to flex your mind and learn new skills, it’s a sign you’re ready to work with a career coach. 

Career coaching versus career counseling

You might have stumbled across career counseling if you’ve been looking for a career coach. So what’s the difference between career counseling and career coaching? 

First, think of what coaching is: a proactive approach to building mental fitness. It’s future-forward, focusing on different aspects of your career and your outlook. It helps you develop the skills you need to get to the next level. It’s a long-term relationship that builds on itself. 

Career counseling can mirror some of the aspects of career coaching. Both a career counselor and a career coach can focus on building skills and capabilities. But a career counselor highlights short-term improvement and the next immediate goal rather than the big picture.

A career counselor might help with a mock interview to land that next job or help you negotiate your pay range. But a career counselor, unlike a coach, might not think five or 10 years down the road. Coaching helps you grow as a person — not just in your current career.

8 benefits of career coaching

BetterUp Labs has studied the benefits of coaching in the workplace extensively. Here are just some of the common benefits that people see: 

• Reduced burnout: On average, BetterUp members report a 19% reduction in burnout. 
• Decrease in languishing: BetterUp members see a 38% decrease in languishing in their first three months with a coach. 
• Increased self-awareness and self-efficacy: In one study, BetterUp’s research indicated an increase in prospection ability. Specifically, this study found an increase in self-efficacy, social connection, and emotional regulation. It also reported a reduction in stress and an increase in stress management. 

• Increased resilience: Resilience is vital, especially in a fast-changing world of work. BetterUp has found that coaching increases your team’s resilience. Our data also discovered that your leader’s level of resilience significantly impacts overall team resilience, meaning coaching is beneficial at all levels.

• Increased mental fitness: Of the people who start out feeling stuck, 77% will significantly improve their well-being state within three or four months of coaching.

• More productive: With increased mental fitness comes a host of benefits. Thriving employees lead teams that are 31% more productive. 
• Better employee retention: In addition to increased productivity, thriving leaders are more likely to retain their teams. In fact, BetterUp data reports that the direct reports of a thriving employee are 78% less likely to leave voluntarily.
• Improved focus: Coaching also helps you improve your focus. This is especially important when it comes to reaching and achieving your goals. 

How does career coaching compare to other types of coaching?

There are plenty of types of coaching, and comprehensive career coaching services may overlap with other types. Alternatively, career coaching can differ entirely from other tracks. Here are some common types of coaching and the key differences you’ll find between them:

Life coaching 

A life coach tends to look at all aspects of a person’s life. Although some career coaches might be certified life coaches, life coaching is broader and covers more topics, whether that’s family, hobbies, or your career. 

Career coaching focuses solely on professional development and methods of furthering your career journey. Sometimes, other aspects of your life affect your career, but the goal of this coaching process will remain professional.

Executive and leadership coaching 

Executive coaching is a type of coaching focused on developing C-suite-level executives. It often supports individuals as they reach for high-level leadership positions. 

It differs from leadership coaching because executive coaching is reserved for C-suite positions, and the former is more broadly available to any leader in the company. 

Career, leadership, and executive coaching have plenty of overlap, but it’s important to note that not all career coaches are leadership or executive coaches. High-level coaching requires specific, specialized expertise.

Relationship coaching 

Relationship coaching is another type of coaching that differs from professional coaching. Of course, there are many different types of relationships in your career — the manager-to-employee relationship, the colleague-to-colleague relationship, and even the customer-to-client relationship. 

But relationship coaches tend to focus on interpersonal connections rather than professional ones. A career coach may still be well-versed in how to navigate and strengthen connections, but career coaching won’t necessarily focus on your personal life. 

What to expect from a career coaching session

If it’s your first time participating in career coaching, it helps to know what’s in store. You can think ahead and enter the right mindset to get the most out of your experience. Here’s what to expect from an introductory coaching session:

Be prepared to take a career assessment 

Before you have your first career coaching session, you’ll likely take an assessment that identifies your strengths and weaknesses. BetterUp uses a Whole Person Assessment (WPA). Rooted in positive psychology, the WPA measures key capabilities, behaviors, and mindsets. It’s a comprehensive view of your current overall state of being. 

But unlike many other career tests, the WPA takes something important into account: your whole self. It measures things you wouldn’t anticipate in a career assessment, such as rest, self-compassion, and physical activity. Why? Because these critical components help influence how you show up in your professional life. 

Expect to talk about both long-term and short-term goals 

Your career coach will want to know what your goals are and why. It’s okay if you don’t have your career goals ready when your session comes — or don’t have an idea of what your future looks like at all. In fact, that’s what a coach is there for. 

Still, they’ll want to get some sense of your career aspirations, even if you’re unsure what they are. Talking about the skills and capabilities you’d like to build can help get you started. The goal is to build a step-by-step plan to reach your potential, and if the process is unclear to you, a coach can sharpen the view.

Anticipate discussing challenges or obstacles in your current career 

There’s likely some obstacle you’re currently facing. It might be an upcoming presentation or a performance review. Maybe you feel like you’re in a dead-end job. You might be ready for a career change or know you’re not on the right path but aren’t sure how to find a new direction. 

Think about your current obstacles, big and small. You should expect to discuss them in your first career coaching session.

How to prepare for a career coaching session

If you have a career coaching session coming up, there are several things you can do to ensure it’s a productive experience. These helpful strategies will make it as enriching as possible:

Reflect 

If you’re ready to embark on your career coaching journey, first stop and reflect on what got you to where you are today. By thinking hard about your career journey, you’ll be better equipped to evaluate your current state. Start with a moment of pause to ground you in your present being. 

Adopt a growth mindset 

Coaching is all about change. It takes a willingness to grow to make meaningful behavioral and mindset changes. Tap into your growth mindset before your first session. Your career coach will likely challenge you to get outside your comfort zone — and that’s okay. You need to get comfortable with being uncomfortable to make real change.

Commit to the work 

Much like adopting a growth mindset, committing to the work is essential. All personal and professional development requires intention, awareness, and commitment. Your coach can provide you with the guidance and support you need, but you need the motivation to invest in the work and build the skills to reach your full potential.

Career coaching FAQs

Let’s address some common questions about career coaching. 

How much does career coaching cost? 

What exactly does career coaching cost? The short answer is that it varies. Career coaches charge anywhere from $50 to $250 per hour, depending on a few factors. Experience, session length, and certifications all play a role in cost.

What makes a good career coach?

The makings of a high-quality career coach are subjective and depend on the individual’s needs. Generally speaking, a good career coach is: 

• A good, active listener
• A strong communicator 
• Committed to growth and development
• Certified by an institution like the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and/or BetterUp 
• Dedicated to offering personalized career advice
• A friend who challenges coachees to learn, grow, and commit to behavior changes 

Does career coaching help you find a job?

Yes, coaches can help you in the job search, but it’s important to know that working with a career coach won’t be the magic bullet to receiving job offers. 

A career coach helps you build the skills and capabilities to improve your job-searching skills and impress hiring managers. They can help you write a cover letter, review your resume, and practice interviewing skills. And they’ll support you as you grow not only as a professional but as a person, too.

Start working with a career coach 

Virtual coaching can be the difference between languishing and thriving. And in today’s workplace, digital coaching has helped unlock the potential of millions of individuals. With innovations in coaching constantly expanding, a coach is a great asset to have in your professional development toolkit.